Newbie here....

[yankee817299]

Great forum everyone, worth its weight in gold.

I purchased a 94 atx with 106k on it, not knowing anything about the SHO. The intake looked so impressive that I had to have it. The car ran fine coming from the auction, just an intermittent cel that gives a 332 (egr) code. I am not driving the car, I want to do some preventive maint. before I start. Other than starting it up and letting it get up to normal operating temp. once a week, it has been sitting in the drive.

I have gathered enough info. here on the forum to start planning the 60k maint. I have looked into a few links for the valve lash kit available for rental, but I am unable to locate one. It seems that all of the kits and tools are dropping off the wayside? Also, I plan to replace the cam and crank seals, timing belt, and water pump while I am doing the valve lash. I have read much about the pulley bearings here, should this be something to add to my list? Also, could someone educate me on what prevent maint that I am overlooking while I have the top and side of the engine opened up.

Thanks to all,

 

[boat]

Welcome in, Yankee.

As far as the bearings go in the pulleys, if they are not making any noise yet, it might be a good idea to get them off, and repack them with some grease from like autozone or advance (whomever you have for auto parts in TX). Carefully pry off the seals, then with some starter fluid spray inside the bearing races, cleaning all the old grease out. Then take some grease on your finger and just keep working the grease in by smooshing it in with your finger, while turning the bearing (helps to work the grease in). Keep doing this from one side until you start to see it come through the other side, then you have enough grease in it, clean it up put your seals back in, then you are in good shape.

Probably more than you asked for, but hey, its good preventative maintenance, keeps your idler pulleys quiet.

Have fun!

 

[sperold]

Put the plates on and start using it as a second vehicle. Solve the 332 code as a start. You may not need to have your valves adjusted. Buy your gaskets, waterpump, timing belt, 02 sensors, rad hoses, plugs and wires, thermostat and sensors in advance and hopefully on sale. Get driving it and get an idea of the gas mileage while checking out the health of your alternator and starter.

 

[jayro]

I have read much about the pulley bearings here

Do you mean rod bearing?

If you don't know the history of the car you could add these to your maintinance for peace of mind.

Jeremy

 

[yankee817299]

The bearings that I have been reading about are the serpentine belt pulley's. I have no history on this car at all. I was going to do the 60k to check for wear on the valve shims. Also, I see water dripping from each muffler right behind where it connects the exhaust pipe, when it is cold. I am assuming that the mufflers rusted through? Also, is there any way to make certain that the catalytic converters are good?

 

[sperold]

(Catalytic converter) Yea, by driving them and keeping track of you mileage.
If you valve shims have wear, you will hear them.
You are always going to have water dripping from near your mufflers when the car is cold.
One of the things you have to appreciate is, the things you remove from your car are often better than the new things you are installing. Don't do anything unnecessarily. You need to contact someone in your vicinity that has one of these cars to get a baseline. Even if you have to plan a vacation around it.
The average consumer doesn't want these car because they are afraid of the motor and the specialized SHO stuff. What they don't know is, it is the standard Taurus stuff that is the problem center. Get driving it, be careful not to overheat it, put some injector cleaners through it, and start enjoying the car.

 

[SHOCH]

Welcome, x2 on the shims, 165k on mine and never needed it, and I punish this car like a red headed stepchild.

 

[Janice]

Welcome. I to bought this car because I think the engine is so neat. All of my problems that I have had or am having are not engine related. There are things I want to get done to the engine, but only as a maintance thing. My car runs great.

 

[yankee817299]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. The engine sounds very smooth, no valve noise to speak of, no oil leaks, no oil in the plug wells.
The plug wires look like they are new, definately not the originals, so maybe the po did a few things to this car?

I am going to get it insured tomorrow and take to the inspection station and see if the state will let me start driving it.

 

[luigisho]

Since you are from Texas I would suggest you join the Forbastards board. Most of their members are in Texas and they help each other out. There might be some on that site that have the tools you need when you decide to check the valve lash. I wouldn't worry about it with 106k. I would look for regular maint. problems like leaky seals in the spark plug tubes and fixing the EGR so it will pass inspection. It is 16 yrs old things will need replacing soon enough.

 

[bubba]

I'd check the dpfe... to see if it's not gummed, and take the egr off also.. I've had somthing of the same problem..... I'm pretty sure your going to need a new egr... You can get them new from www.rockauto.com I would just change 3 things and that should clear up anything with the egr stuff.... o2's, dpfe ( a known good one works) and diff the egr that's should get things running smooth!

Note: These are the things I've ran into with the atx... doesn't mean your going to "right now" I'd just save myself some headaches later!

 

[yankee817299]

Thanks Bubba, but what is the dpfe? Also, can someone give me the location of the EGR. Somewhere I read that I am going to need to be able to remove the intake with my eyes closed, so, I think that maybe taking it off and making sure there is no carbon build up inside would be a good start. Also, the IAC could be checked and I could get a good look at the vacuum hoses as well.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

We have the shim kits here: SHO Source

We also have everything you need for a 60k.

I have done many valve adjustments and I can tell you it really depnds on the car. I have done some and needed no valves adjsuted. I have done others where half of the valves need to be adjusted. I think it is very good to do it worth it.

 

[bubba]

It's right behind the tb...... Yeah, I'd spend the extra couple of bucks, to get the intake cleaned with new gaskets, and all of that.... I also, the dpfe.. is on the same side as the egr, it's like a regulater. for the egr!...No problem man, just trying to save you some of the trouble I went threw!

 

[Eric VerValin]

EGR is LAME! Keep that crap away from my car please... lol

 

[yankee817299]

Hey Eric,

I do like that avatar you have, I am a displaced Steeler fan. Going to have and wait until next season now.....